As I arrive in Mbare today, the
building site is already a hive of activity with the community busy setting out and digging trenches. Big dark clouds are threatening to unleash a heavy downpour but everyone is so excited about the task in hand to notice the impending rain. Here in Harare, we are already experiencing the adverse effect of climate change with the rainy season already months late and the temperatures much higher than we usually experience at this time of year.

The sounds of picks and shovels rise high above the cheerful discussions. Many people are on George Moyo's stand and since it rained last night, those digging have to contend with water rushing into the trenches. Others are scooping the water using dishes and buckets. These are some of the challenges of construction work we face during the rainy season in Zimbabwe.

"Two years ago, if you had told me that today in 2006, neighbours will be helping me to dig my house's foundation, I would have called you a liar," says George with a broad smile. George came to Harare from his rural area of Makonde in 1986 and found casual employment with a transport company. He has lived in a makeshift cabin in Mbare for many years with his family.

Life changed in May 2004, when the government launched a programme to address overcrowding, crime and lawlessness in high-density suburbs throughout the country.

Fortunately for George and others, they had already joined a big housing cooperative, formed many years ago to look into the needs of homeless people. Members of the cooperative approached Harare city council to be allocated a piece of subdivided land for housing. Each member was allocated a stand through the cooperative and title deeds are being processed with Practical Action's help.

Harare city council has approved the plans for each household, and serviced the stands - providing water, sewage and road construction. Electricity will be connected when construction of houses is completed.

To promote low-cost, affordable housing for George and his neighbours, Practical Action is providing building materials and training local builders, among other activities. Earth bricks are being manufactured on-site to reduce transport costs.

George's fellow homeowners, whose houses are also to be built, cannot hide their excitement. "Through the project, we have acquired leadership, financial and resources management skills. We are sharing ideas much more than we used to do and with all of us working together to build our houses there is a significant reduction in labour costs" says Nobert Ndlovu (47).

He is a widower whose wife passed away in June this year leaving him to take care of his three children. To worsen his situation, he is also taking care of four orphans left behind by his late brother and his wife who also passed away in August this year.

Another excited prospective homeowner is Marjory Nhava (59), who lives alone in a cabin and survives on selling sweets and vegetables. She is scooping water from the trenches while others are digging. "I am very happy that I will soon have a house. I have relatives who cannot visit me because at the moment I do not have enough accommodation for them. I am sure they will be happy to come once I have a house to live in." she says.

Like the other members, she currently uses a temporary toilet connected to the sewer and each time you visit the toilet, you have to pour some water to flush the waste.

"Given the type of clay soil in the area, it looks like some of the houses are going to need a special foundation. At least I have received training on how to do it from Practical Action," says Peter Gondo, one of the five builders in the community.